Zhuxi Temple 竹溪寺 in Fuqing 福清

I had a great opportunity to visit Zhuxi Temple 竹溪寺 in Fuqing 福清 on Nov. 24, 2019. Legend says that the great Song Neo-Confucian scholar Lin Xiyi 林希逸 used to study here. One of Lin Xiyi's descendants in the Ming dynasty became a monk and acquired the dharma name of Jifei Ruyi 即非如一under Yinyuan Longqi 隱元隆琦. He died in Japan. 

Bifeng Temple 碧峰寺 in Fuqing 福清, China

I had a rare opportunity to visit Bifeng Temple 碧峰寺 on Nov. 21, 2019 in Fuqing 福清, China. It is a small temple revived recently with a distinctive syncretic religious practice. Traditionally, it attracted many worshippers from the neighboring Putian 莆田 area who brought their local gods to worship here.

Shizhu Daoist Temple 石竹道院 where Master Yinyuan Stayed

During my visit to Fuqing on Nov. 19, 2019, I visited Shizhu Daoist Temple 石竹道院 (Stone Bamboo) located in Mount Shizhu where Master Yinyuan stayed before. Lion Cliff (Shiziyan 獅子岩) where Master Yinyuan stayed as a recluse was in its vicinity. However, I did not have time to climb and hike to the place. There used to be Buddhist sites nearby. But right now it is a famous Daoist site nationwide for its dream culture because auspicious dreams are going to happen to visitors. The local legend of Nine Immortals of the He Family 何氏九仙 also originated here and spread in Fujian and Taiwan. When he was young, Master Yinyuan had a good dream here which predicted that he would be ordained as a monk soon. This episode has been recorded in his chronological biography and discussed in my book Leaving for the Rising Sun. In his poems, Master Yinyuan made many references to the Daoist culture on Mount Shizhu such as the reference to Ziyun Cave 紫雲洞. Evidence shows he was deeply influenced by local Daoist cultures such as dream prognostication and spirit writing 扶乩. Chinese President Xi Jinping 習近平 also visited here when he was a local official in a nearby county many years ago. An old Daoist monk said Xi had a dream and consulted him. This is the origin of the slogan "Chinese Dream" 中國夢 which Xi promoted later.

© Jiang Wu

© Jiang Wu

© Jiang Wu

© Jiang Wu

Donglin Village Yinyuan Library 隱元圖書館

During my visit to Fuqing on Nov. 18, 2019, I visited Yinyuan Library 隱元圖書館 located in Donglin Village 東林村 where Master Yinyuan was born. It was built by a Japanese donor in 1996. However, it has been deserted for other uses without adequate professional care.